Wednesday, July 01, 2009

I took my 2 year old nephew to Revere Beach last year, and he loved seeing the planes on the approach to Logan Airport, so close you could read the airline names on the sides. Myself, I'm not so crazy about seeing low-flying planes, even when I know they're just heading for nearby runways. It's strange to think that eight years later, I'm still bothered by low-flying planes, even though I'm confident in the government's ability to stop any potential terrorist attacks.

Today, this email was sent around my office:

Please be advised that a military fly over consisting of six F-A 18 jet fighter aircraft and one C-130 transport is tentatively scheduled to occur today, Wednesday, July 1st between 1:00 and 1:20 p.m., weather permitting. The flyover is being conducted by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in conjunction with their recent visit to an air show in Rhode Island. The Blue Angels are the U.S. Navy’s aerial demonstration team and they applied for and received permission from the FAA for the Boston flyover at an altitude of 1000 feet to take promotional photos if conditions are favorable.

Please notify your employees who may observe the jets as they pass by, in order to avert any potential anxiety or apprehension the sight of these military aircraft maycause.

It's sad to think that we're still so axious that we have to be "warned" of our own planes doing air stunts.

2
responses:

I can't say for sure whether such information was circulated prior to 9/11, but I would think so. Living in the host city for the upcoming Olympics, we get warned (via radio/newpaper and tv) of all sorts of security/military exercises that are being done. Not to diminish the gravity of 9/11, but it just seems sensible to warn people that they don't need to worry if they see observe these things to avert any panic and appease the curious.